Dan Gurney’s 1961 Chevrolet Impala Debuts as Pace Car for Dan Gurney Saloon Car Trophy Race at Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

Few would call American racing hero Dan Gurney subtle when he entered a slightly modified stock 1961 Chevy Impala to race against smaller displacement cars at the British Saloon Car Championship at Silverstone. Now, 63 years later and under the rightful ownership of his son Justin Gurney, this original Impala will be driven by Justin as the pace car for the aptly named Dan Gurney Saloon Car Trophy race at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion Aug. 13-16 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

“My dad loved this car and always talked about it,” explained Justin Gurney, president and CEO of the famed All American Racers. “There’s a photo of him driving it in our office’s hallway and a large mural in the shop.” 

But it was bittersweet as the Impala was banned before the next race after its lone appearance where he was leading before a wheel broke on the second to last lap. “Dad wasn’t very happy with the ban prior to the second race and tried to argue his case, but in the end realized he couldn’t fight city hall and sold it on the spot.”

Justin is excited about returning to Laguna Seca and bringing this historic Impala to life. “I’m not going to race the car, but to participate as the pace car in the Dan Gurney Saloon Car Trophy races is going to be both exciting and sentimental,” he explained. “When unmuffled like it will be, the deep guttural 409 big block engine should turn quite a few heads to say the least.”

When the Impala was restored, the original 409 engine couldn’t be found, so a different 409 engine was installed. But when the owner expressed interest in selling the car to Justin, the original 409 with matching numbers was found…as the power plant inside a boat!

Several weeks ago when the container arrived in the Port of Los Angeles after a circuitous route through Scotland, Europe, Panama Canal and Canada, for which Justin kept tracking its movement, he anxiously unlocked and swung open the door to see the Impala for the first time, with the accompanying original 409 engine.

“It was an emotional experience to sit on the bench seat and take hold of the steering wheel. It even has the original AM radio that dad kept intact, although this car is so loud there is no way you could hear music!” 

“We are thrilled to invite Justin to the Rolex Reunion and have him bring this historic Impala that meant so much to his dad,” said Bruce Canepa, chair of the Rolex Reunion Advisory Council and vice president of Friends of Laguna Seca. “Everyone will enjoy seeing and hearing this long-lost car fittingly serve as the pace car for the Saloon car race. Making memories like this are what the Rolex Reunion is all about.”

Justin was anxious to show the Impala to his mother Evi and give her a ride around town. And according to Canepa, he’s pressing Justin to take her out as a passenger during the pace laps at the Rolex Reunion. “I can’t think of a better tribute to Dan than to have Evi riding shotgun with Justin in one of Dan’s favorite cars at one of his favorite race courses,” Canepa said.

To enjoy being part of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and bear witness to more than 400 historic race cars competing, the 75^th Anniversary Celebration of Formula 1® and the return of the IROC race series with many of their legendary drivers behind the wheel, start planning ahead. Individual and multi-day tickets, VIP hospitality packages and camping are on sale now, as are tickets to the Pre-Reunion & Corkscrew Hillclimb.